The following is a statement that Andy Stepanian made to the court as best recalled by himself and his support committee.
"Your honor, I was advised by my attorney that I should use this opportunity to make a statement to this court regarding this aforementioned case. With that, I would like to take this opportunity to say something sincere and constructive."
"There are very few things in this world that bother me more than animal cruelty, sexual violence, child abuse and racism."
"Our society suffers from an illness, an illness with symptoms that narrow our vision, and polarize our moral constructs into 'us and them' and 'black and white'. Often society commits its most heinous acts when people view the world as black and white, with no recognition of grays. This narrow world view is apparent in modern situations like America's public debate over the efficacy of torture, a crime against humanity that is so morally bankrupt that it's proponents suffer from the most acute stage of this aforementioned illness, with a world view limited only to the 'us vs. them' and the 'black & white'."
"I believe that the prevention of the animal cruelty perpetrated by Huntingdon Life Sciences is a most noble cause, but despite its nobility its advocates should not revert to a narrow sight that dilutes and erodes its moral high ground."
There is right and wrong in this world. When you start accepting shades of gray, you start allowing illegal activity.
"This case and this trial was a learning experience for me. Through testimony in this trial I learned about events and activities alleged to have been done in the name of animal liberation that disturbed me..."
Who would have imagined that threatening people and their families would have negative consequences? Who would have imagined that these people might be afraid? That is what you call terror.
"Though I and my co-defendants had no knowledge or connection to these events, I would like to make a personal apology in response to the following testimonials."
"Through testimony I learned about a man who was afraid to take his son to the park to see the dogs. No one should deny someone their time with child. To that individual and his son I would like to say sorry."
What else do you expect when advocate harming families as is the standard policy of the Animal Liberation Front?
"Through testimony I learned of a woman who had her intimates posted on and sold on eBay. There is no excuse for any sexual threat, ever. I am ashamed that anyone would commit such an act. To that woman I would like to say that I am sorry."
This is standard operating policy along with ordering magazine subscriptions, breaking into automobiles, identity theft, and posting communiqués on direct actions against the families and children. You are not sorry about anything, these were your objectives.
"Through testimony I learned about people who were the focus animal welfare protests who had children with special needs like autism who could have been potentially scared by related situations. No child should ever be scared. To those families I would like to say sorry."
Yet, that is exactly what you did. You support people and groups that target children. How is this not an act of terrorism? Do not say that you do not support terrorism because that is exactly what you are doing!
"Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my family, my friends, my loved ones, and to the hundreds of supporters who have shared in my grief during the duration of this trail. To all of you I would like to say sorry."
You were not thinking about them when you were supporting attacks on other families, were you?
"As for myself, I would like to thank your honor and thank Mr. McKenna for allowing me to continue on with and ultimately graduate college while on house arrest. I understand that your honor will be sentencing me to jail, and even with that eventuality I plan to continue my education after my release with pursuit of a master's degree and assistant professorship at the University of California."
How long will it be before you begin your support of terrorism?
Andrew Stepanian is nothing more than a dangerous and selfish individual that has no respect others. Destruction of property belonging to others is deemed proper by him. And the rights of others are of no importance.
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UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
Andy Stepanian was released from prison on 18 December 2008. He was sent to a halfway house in New York and will be able to return home in the coming months.
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